2 Congress leaders in Kochi suspended

Kochi | Congress today suspended two local party leaders who were named as accused in a case of alleged abduction and assault of a trade union worker here.

Marad Municipal Vice Chairman Antony Asanparambil and councillor Jinson Peter were suspended from the party following the directive of state Congress chief V M Sudheeran, Ernakulam District Congress Committee president V J Poulose said.

Antony Asan parambil was also serving as the President of the Marad Mandalam Congress committee.

Kochi city police had yesterday arrested four men on the complaint from a trade union worker that he was assaulted after being abducted in connection with a land case.

Police probing the case said the gang had acted at the behest of Antony, named as the key accused in the case.

Antony, however, has rejected the allegations and alleged that he was being framed in the case.

Both Antony and Jinson are absconding after the police registered case against them.

According to the police, the arrested gang members were allegedly linked with the land mafia operating in the city.

The police move came within a week after they booked a ruling CPI(M) functionary here in connection with alleged threatening of a man over a business deal.

Police have registered a case under non-bailable offence against CPI(M) Kalamassery Area Secretary Zakir Hussain, who is absconding, on a complaint sent to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by the victim, Jube Poulose, that he was threatened by Hussain and his gang over a business deal.

Vijayan, who also holds the Home portfolio, had said in the Assembly on October 25 that his government would not protect those people who indulge in criminal activities such as extortion racket.